New book honours the men and women who served in the RUC

Published:08:36Tuesday 16 June 2015

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The bravery of men and women in the Royal Ulster Constabulary, including many who lived and worked in Lisburn, has been recorded in a new book – Honours and Medals awarded to the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC 1922-2001.

The 500 page book was written by former RUC officer Roy Black and has been published by the RUC GC Foundation.

It details all the awards given to RUC officers between 1922 and 2001, in some cases providing a background why the award was made.

One of the first stories told in the book is of Sir Richard Pike Pim, Inspector General, who was awarded the Knight Bachelor in 1945.

Sir Richard was born on July 10, 1900 in Dunmurry. He served as a midshipman in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve during the Great War and was later appointed as a Cadet to the RIC and then promoted to District Inspector in 1921.

“After partition he joined the Northern Ireland Civil Service, attaining the grade of Assistant Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs (NI) in 1935,” explains the book.

“During the Second World War he again served in the RNVR, initially placed in charge of the First Lord’s War Room at the Admiralty and later to the Prime Minister’s Map Room at Downing Street. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1941. He was rewarded for his war service by being appointed a Knight Bachelor in 1945.”

The book also details more recent awards, including that of Assistant Chief Constable Christopher Charles Kennedy Albiston, who was awarded the OBE in 2001.

Chrisopher Albiston graduated from Exeter College, Oxford with a degree in modern history and joined the Metropolitan Police in 1975. After serving in various areas of policing, he transferred to the RUC in 1989, serving as the Deputy Commander of Lisburn Sub Division.

In 1999 he was appointed Assistant Chief Constable and later he was seconded to the United Nations Mission in Kosovo in 2000.

Sergeant Frances Joy Robinson was awarded the BEM in 1990. She joined the RUC in 1960 and in 1974 she was transferred to Lisburn. During her time in Lisburn, Sergeant Robinson was given responsibilty for Women Police in the Division.

Author Roy Black said: “This book is a tribute to the ordinary men and women who had the privilege to wear the green uniform, a uniform which inspired them daily to perform acts of great courage and suffer privations in the course of their duty, far and beyond that expected in any normal society.

“Their memory must not be permitted to be sullied by political propaganda, exploited for expediency by opportunists – political or otherwise – or ignored and forgotten as were their forefathers in the RIC.”

Former Assistant Chief Constable Stephen White, a Trustee of the RUC GC Foundation, writes in the foreword that the book will help people gain a deeper insight into the service and courage of the men and women in the RUC.

“The RUC’s story is in my opinion, one of dedication, service, bravery and professionalism and as so aptly illustrated in this book, about ordinary men and women performing extraordinary actions – often above and beyond the call of duty,” he said.